On the outside of the box, write what kind of plates are inside: “metal plates,” “plastic plates,” or “metal and plastic”

You can cut down your plates so they’ll fit in a smaller box if you want to save on shipping.

This is what happens to your plates, film and bags.

plastic-backed polymer plates and polymer bags: baled as low-grade mixed plastic and used to make consumer goods such as outdoor furniture or plastic lumber.

film: sent out for silver recovery, where the silver is refined and recycled into the silver industry. Once the silver has been extracted, the plastic film is baled and recycled into the plastics industry, where it is used to make products like outdoor furniture and plastic lumber.

steel-backed plates: the polymer on steel-backed plates is burned off in the smelting process. The steel is turned into other steel products.